Philosophy

Indeterminism

Indeterminism

Indeterminism is the theory that some events do not have causes: they happen, because we live in a universe of chance, uncertainty, and randomness. It is highly relevant to the philosophical problem of free will, particularly in the form of metaphysical libertarianism. Indeterminism is the belief that our choices occurred as a result of chance. They could have happened otherwise, but which choice happened was purely and entirely a matter of chance. Indeterminism opens up the possibility that we can really affect the future; and in this way we can be free and morally responsible.